Mixed Start For Sunday 1st Team

Aston Manor Sunday 1st XI have got off to a mixed start in their Lichfield League season having already beaten Whittington at Church Road, they then lost a high scoring affair away at Wednesbury this Sunday.

In the earlier match at home to Whittington, under the expert captaincy of Chris Brearley Wooding, the Squirrels were bowled out for a very competitive 185 on a track that certainly offered help to the seam bowlers. Saturday skipper, Peter Evans, was the mainstay of the innings with a well constructed 38.

The visitors batsmen had no answer to Manors bowling attack as debutant Asif of the “reverse cap” endeared himself to the Saturday skipper by grabbing 4-11. Darren Baker screeched his way to 3-23 and Dave Woakes had ideas of being his brother, cousin, uncle or whatever the relationship is as his wily seamers earned him figures of 3-12 in a comprehensive victory.

However, on Sunday, with virtually an entirely different team Manor were well beaten by a strong Wednesbury side. On winning the toss on such a hot day the sensible decision was taken to have a bat first and Abdul Rahim (57) and Andrew Forman (41) got the Squirrels off to a great start with a really good partnership against an impressive new ball attack. Ryan van Nierkerk (93) then entertained the spectators with some spectacular hitting and with good support from Dominic Ashton (22no) saw Manor close on 241-4 from their 40 overs.

Unfortunately, with the bowling attack decimated by three late cry-offs (nothing to do with any of the bowlers mentioned in the previous report by the way) Wednesbury smashed their way to a 5 wicket victory with 7 overs still remaining. All the bowlers tried their best but young Usman Shoukat with 3 wickets was the most successful. Unfortunately this was a very sad case of the club being very badly let down by late withdrawals with no consideration for the people who then have to dedicated the whole of their Sunday morning to turn a full eleven out for the club.